Potty Training Triplets

Thus far, in raising triplets, potty training has been the most daunting task.  Brian and I kept putting it off even though we could tell our girls were ready.  We imagined poop and pee to be splattered all over our house and it wasn't something we were ready to jump in to.  I have to say, though, after doing it I'm so glad we did it when we did.  Any earlier or any later would not have gone so well.  Someone told me prior to the potty training, "Its like jumping through a ring of fire.  Its easy on this side of the fire, when you jump through it is absolutely horrible, and then you are safe and its easy once you get to the other side."

Prior to their 2nd birthday, we got potties and put them in their bathroom.  We made it a routine that they sat on their potties before getting in the bathtub every night.  I highly recommend this.  It got the girls used to the potties so they weren't afraid and it was easy clean up since they were getting straight in the bathtub.  Some nights they would sit and not peepee. Other nights they would skip the potty all together.  We didn't push it, but most of the time they would go potty.

Fast forward about 8-9 months.  I start doing a little research about potty training.  I can tell they are ready.  They go in the potty every night, they tell me immediately after they go #2 in their diapers (except Mal who doesn't care if she is dirty), and they are taking off their diapers on a regular basis.  There are lots of other signs of readiness that I read about, but these are the ones that stood out for me about my girls.  I then decided to go into a little more detail with my research.  I read the 3 Day Potty Training Method and some other blog posts and came up with the best method for my girls.

I knew we needed, at the very least, 3 full days at home.  So after the busy Christmas holidays, I pulled out the calendar and saw that if we started February 4 we would have 4 full days at home.  I put it in all of our calendars and began counting down the days.  

I read a little more and made a plan for our family.  I scheduled grandparents to be there with me the first 2 days since Brian would be working.  I bought all of the supplies I needed and collected things around the house that I would be using.

Supplies list:

~ Panties (about 60 pair for my 3 girls)

~ Pull ups

~ Car seat covers

~ Paper towels (lots of paper towels)

~ Toilet paper

~ Lysol spray

~ Lysol wipes

~ Flush-able wipes

~Travel potty

~ 6 total potties for the house (3 upstairs, 3 downstairs)

~ Hand sanitizer

~ Tissues

~ Wash cloths

~ Large towels and waterproof picnic blankets

~ Trash bags

~ Bucket for dirty items

~ Hand lotion

~ New water bottles

~ Small toys/treats for rewards

~ New games/colors/toys

Preparation:

Prior to the 1st day of potty training, I made sure everything was done that I needed done in order to focus 100% of my attention on the girls in those 4 days.  We had all of the grocery shopping done.  I had food planned for the weekend.  And other odds and ends were finished or put on hold for the next 4 days.  I labeled and decorated the girls potties so they would be excited about them the first day.  

I also put together what I call a potty caddie.  I included paper towels, Lysol wipes, extra panties, flush-able wipes, hand sanitizer, and hand lotion.  This I could carry around with us and grab really quick in case there was an accident.

I had everyone that was going to be helping with potty training read the 3 Day Potty Training Method.  I put together a summary of bullet points of communication for reference once we started.  Some of these things included:

~ No negativity about having accidents.

~ “Let Mommy know when you have to go peepee.”  -- gives child more control.

~ Do NOT ask “Do you have to go peepee?"

~ When they have accidents, say, “Yucky, your panties are not dry anymore.” Or “Sweetie, you were supposed to tell Mommy before you went peepee in your panties.”

~  Do NOT say “Bad girl” or reprimand.

~ No forcing to go potty.

~ When they are successful in getting to the potty, “See they are not wet!  You kept your panties dry.  I’m so proud of you!”

~ Give reminders, “Keep your underwear dry, okay?  Tell Mom when you need to go.”

~ Don’t bribe with the reward.  Just offer once they go in the potty.  Don’t say, “If you go, you will get a treat.”  Just give the treat once they have gone in the potty.

I did find that once the potty training got going, we had to adapt some of the communication to each child.  Everyone is different, so what might work on one child, may not work on another.

I also laid out towels and waterproof picnic blankets all over my second floor.  I removed the rug and we planned to stay upstairs for the most part in the next few days.  I gathered the new toys and crafts that we would be doing as well as the DVDs.  Then I got some good rest that night because I knew the next 4 days were going to be exhausting.

Here are some other tips and pointers that I researched and read about that I wanted to follow:

~ Keep potty in the bathroom
~ Have them drink lots of fluids
~ Frequently check panties and praise them when they are dry
~ Must catch child in the act of going potty so always someone with them giving 100% attention
~ No 'trying' to go potty or forcing to sit there.  No taking them every 20 minutes, etc.
~ Facetime with Daddy or grandparents to give praise when they have done well.
~ Stop liquids 2-3 hours before bedtime.
~ Potty 2 times before tucking in bed
~ Don't lay down child when changing panties.
~ Don't compare them.

Day 1:

The girls woke up like normal.  I changed their diapers and did the normal routine in their bedroom.  We walked in the play room and I got their attention.  I told them that they were big girls and it was time for them to wear big girl panties.  I showed them the assortment of panties to choose from and let them pick.  We took off the diapers and into panties.  

I then showed them their "surprise" which was that I had decorated their potties.  They were so excited to have their color, name, and favorite animal on their potty.  So they all sat down and peed.  My Mom (MeMe to the girls) showed up around then to help me for the day.  I completely forgot to do a little ceremony to dispose of the diapers which back fired on me later, so I suggest having the kids assist you in getting rid of the diapers.  I also gave them new sippy cups that would hopefully encourage them to drink more.  And apple juice was unlimited during these 3-4 days.

The morning went okay.  M did pretty well at first but they all had a few accidents before lunch.  If they started going, I would scoop them up, run to the bathroom, and remind them to keep their panties dry the next time.  A lot of times they would finish in the potty.  They also followed each other in to the bathroom a lot which may have prevented some accidents.  I didn't set a timer, I just told them, "Let Mommy know if you need to go potty."  And I gave them reminders about every minute it seemed like.  They also realized they were getting a treat each time they actually went in the potty.  Their treats of choice were marshmallows, yogurt covered raisins, and M&Ms.  And 2 treats for going #2.

We kept busy all day with fun activities.  2 year old brains don't have a long attention span so we did one thing after the next.

At nap time, I had the pull ups ready.  Brian and I had discussed focusing on day time potty training first and once they mastered that, we would work on night time.  I offered the pull ups to all of them and S and T refused.  They wanted their panties.  I didn't feel like fighting them, so I just went with it.  Once put down, T got up literally 8 times to go peepee in the potty before she finally settled down.  Almost everytime, she went.  So I had to just go with it.  A couple hours later when they woke up, both T and S were dry!  I couldn't believe it.  I was so proud of them.  M had on her pull up over her panties and was wet when she woke up.

M was the only one to go #2 on Day 1 - which was a huge mess in the bathroom.  Mostly my fault with the way I took off her panties, but over time I've learned better techniques.

After bath time, when trying to get them in their panties and PJ's, the not-throwing-away of diapers really backfired on me.  S was persistent and throwing a huge fit about wanting to wear a diaper.  And a pull up just wouldn't do either.  I don't think it was the fact that she didn't want to wear panties, it just interfered with her normal routine.  After bath we carry them in their towel to the changing table to put on a diaper.  She does not like change one bit, so this was difficult for her.  The other two did fine.  T decided on just panties again and M wore a pull up over her panties.

I had them all pee one more time before getting in bed.  Brian laid in there room until they fell asleep in case someone had to go potty.  When it was my bedtime, I set up on the floor of their room.  I didn't want to set them up for failure, especially at the beginning of potty training.  I wanted to be there right when they began waking up so I could get them to the potty.  However, I didn't have much luck getting them to the potty.  M had 3 accidents throughout the night in her pull ups and S & T slept through the night without any accidents.  Way to go, girls!  

Day 2:

In the morning, Brian switched with me so I could get ready and prep everyone's breakfast.  I went back up there and they were still snoozing.  Finally, at 8:30 I woke them up.  I found it easy to carry everything up on a tray so I didn't have to make multiple trips.  Once the girls were up, they used the potty and then we sat down for breakfast.  They seemed to be getting the idea of potty training however still had some accidents on Day 2.  

Brian's Mom (AKA Nana) came to help me.  M had 4 accidents on day 2.  She seemed to be the most resistant to potty training and would go off in a corner or in a tent to pee on the floor.  I really had to keep my eye on her.

S and T regressed a little on Day 2.  Both woke up from nap time really wet and both had 3 accidents and a #2 accident.  They had quite a few successes though so I knew we were on the right track.  When it was time for bed, M refused a pull up so we just went with it.  They started to think it was fun to all go potty over and over again just to procrastinate sleeping.  Finally, after many times we had to say last time and stayed firm about not letting them go again.  Brian also stayed in there until they fell asleep just in case.

Day 3: 

On Day 3, T woke up dry and peed in the potty.  S woke up dry, stood up next to her bed, told me No when I asked her to go to the potty, then peed there standing next to her bed, but decided to finish in the potty.  M had been dry all night but woke up then peed in her bed around 7.  Brian was home since it was Saturday so again we had 2 adults watching them at all times.

M was being resistant about it and actually trying to hide when she had to go.  She also held it for hours.  She was dancing around and crossing her legs.  I could tell she wanted control and didn't want me to tell her when to go potty so I just kept saying, "Let Mommy know when you have to go peepee."  

She had 4 accidents on Day 3 and toward the end of the day I decided to change tactics a little.  I changed to M&Ms for treats and gave her a little reminder that she would be getting one if she peed in the potty.  I also changed up the communication with her and said, "Mal, whenever you need to go potty, go ahead.  You can go by yourself."  This helped for M to give her a little more control.  Then I would just follow her in there.

Nap time went well.  They all went multiple times before settling down and they all woke up dry!  T had no accidents all day long and liked using the potty lots and lots of times.  S didn't have any full accidents, but would get a little squirt in her panties and then run to the potty.  At bed time, no pull ups and multiple times to the potty before settling down.  Neither of us stayed in there and we went back to our normal bed time routine (which normally consists of some playing, screaming, and crying).

Day 4: 

During the night, S had an accident, M had an accident, and T woke up dry.  We had a #2 accident from everyone this day.  I think they were probably holding it and not going as much in the previous days as they were used to.  We made it downstairs and outside for a little bit to get some fresh air without any accidents.  Overall on Day 4, M did much better, S was the same from Day 3 with her squirts, and T regressed slightly with a couple accidents.

We were starting to get bored and a little stir crazy up on the 2nd floor.
  

Day 5:

Everyone woke up dry!  Yay!  This day I was by myself getting them ready and then we had to take our first car ride.  I made sure everything was done upstairs and I was completely ready to go.  When it was time to leave, I had them all use the potty, then it was downstairs, shoes, and in the car.  We drove 30 minutes to Nana and Papa's house.  No accidents and they did great in the car.  I left them to go to work.  Apparently they did remarkable all day long.  No one had an accident AT ALL ALL DAY!  I couldn't believe it and I was so proud of them.

Day 6:

S had an accident in the middle of the night and T had a little squirt in the morning.  S & T each had a #2 accident this day and M was 100%.  I knew M would be the hardest to train but I know once she has figured something out, she's got it.  Overall, they are really getting it.

Day 7: 

We ventured out to gymnastics this day and there were no accidents.  The rest of the day there were also no accidents.  We had a couple of accidents through the night though.

We are now about 2.5 weeks in to potty training and I'm so proud of them.  We have an occasional #2 accident but they are starting to realize when they need to go.  A lot of times it is going in and out of the bathroom 6 or 7 times before they have a bowel movement.  They are still learning what their body's signs are.  Luckily, we have only had 1 accident outside the house.  Knock on wood.

  We even took a road trip to our ranch after 8 days of potty training and they did wonderful.  We stopped a couple times each way to use the travel potty in the back of the car.

I've got to say that potty training was hard and exhausting.  There were many times I was sweating and breathing hard with all the trips to the bathroom and leaning over to wipe kids and clean potties.  But, I'm glad we made it through the ring of fire and I'm so proud of my girls.  I'm also proud of Brian and I (and MeMe, PopPops, and Nana) because we just conquered potty training TRIPLETS!